To commemorate Temasek’s 35th anniversary, Temasek Cares was established on 25 June 2009 as an Institution of a Public Character. This was supported by an initial endowment of S$100 million to Temasek Trust. Temasek Cares aims to contribute to the well-being, dignity and livelihood of the underprivileged in Singapore through education, financial aid for the needy and families in crisis, and integrated community programmes.

In its first year, Temasek Cares sought to fill gaps in existing social and welfare programmes, through initiatives such as the Temasek Cares Bursary to support promising students from the Institute of Technical Education, and Project SPARK to help single-parent families.